Tie and spacer for building blocks



Feb. 11, 1969 R. E. MUNDY 3,426,497

TIE AND SPACER FOR BUILDING BLOCKS Filed Jan. 16, 1967 IN VENTOR 05521 5 MUNDY United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tie and spacer designed to permit masonry blocks to be stacked dry without mortar, in spaced relation to each so that wet mortar may then be sprayed onto the blocks and into the spaces between the blocks by a method such as the Gunite method. The tie and spacer is formed from a sheet of metal with three U-shaped portions disposed in parallel relation to each other and interconnected by rectangular connecting members. The legs of the centrally disposed U-sha-ped member are longer than those of the U-shaped members on either side thereof and the connecting members have struck-out portions which form flanges extending away from the U-shaped portions.

This invention relates to masonry, and more particular-' ly, to a device to be used by a mason when he erects a wall it of concrete blocks. This invention both spaces the blocks and at the same time ties in the blocks when the mortar is placed on the blocks as is understood by those experienced in the art.

This invention of a tie and spacer for building blocks consists of a single piece of material that is preferably formed from sheet metal into the configuration shown in the accompanying drawing. The device is then placed between the concrete blocks as the wall or the like is being erected in the manner hereinafter described.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a tie and spacer for building blocks. The tie and spacer are adapted to hold the blocks in place while the mortar is setting and also to space the blocks as they are being laid.

Another object of this invention of mine is to provide a tie and spacer for building blocks that will reduce the construction time as well as to reduce the cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tie and spacer for building blocks that will permit even the most inexperienced man to erect a wall or the like from concrete blocks or their equivalent.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will come to mind as the reading of the specification proceeds and the accompanying drawing is examined.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of part of a wall erected with the use of this invention, which is shown in solid black lines, the concrete blocks of the wall being shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of FIGURE 1.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of this invention of a tie and spacer for building blocks.

In the accompanying drawing, like parts of this invention are indicated by like reference numbers throughout the several views. The reference number 5 indicates this invention in its entirety.

Referring first to FIGURE 3 of the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that this invention 5 consists of a single sheet of material, preferably metal, and which is formed to embody three spaced portions, including a centrally disposed portion 7 and a pair of side portions 6 and 8. Each of these three spaced portions 6, 7, and 8 has the con-figuration of an inverted capital letter U, when viewed from the ends. The number 6 member,

p 3,426,497 I Patented Feb. 1 1, 1969 located on the left hand side of FIGURE 3, embodies a planar side member 9 whose top is formed at right angle thereto to form a planar central member 10. The right portion of the central member 10 is turned downward to form the planar side member 11 whose bottom portion is formed at right angle thereto to form the rectangular connecting member 12. The right hand side of member 12 is turned upward at ninety degrees to form the planar side member 13 of portion 7 which has a planar central member 14 and a planar side member 15. The lower portion of member 15 is bent, or otherwise formed, at right angle to form the rectangular connecting member 16 whose right hand portion is turned upward at right angle thereto, thereby forming planar side member 17 of the side portion 8. Side portion 8 has a planar central member 18 and a planar side member 19, thereby completing the basic configuration of this invention.

Continuing to look at FIGURE 3 of the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that connecting member 12 is provided with a rectangular opening; therein. At each end of the opening there is a vertically disposed, and downwardly turned, flange 20, while like connecting member 16 is also provided with a rectangular opening therein as well as flanges 21, thereby completing the formation of this novel tie and spacer for concrete blocks.

The way in which this invention of mine is used is quite obvious to those experienced in the art as well as to those experienced in the reading of drawings. However, for the benefit of those less experienced in the art, the following explanation of the use of this invention is hereby given.

After the concrete foundation is poured and the building blocks 22 are laid dry, and this novel tie and spacer 5 is placed on top of the building blocks 22 at the horizontally spaced intervals shown in FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawing, the mortar 23 is applied by the Gunite method, thereby blowing into the voids left open by the aforesaid tie and spacers 5. Outside walls may be sprayed with mortar and troweled to a stucco finish, if it is so desired. One may also strike the mortar from the aforesaid building blocks 22 and thus leave the mortar joints only.

Although this invention is actually developed for mortar applied by the Gunite method to concrete blocks, the invention can also be used with success by the brick mason, although this latter use is not the originally intended purpose of the invention which is not to be limited to any one particular kind of building construction material.

It is to be realized that this invention can be manufactured in any desired size and that the detailed parts of the tie and spacer may vary according to the desires of the manufacturer.

Having now described this invention of mine and the way in which it is used, what I now claim as new is and what I desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tie and spacer for building blocks comprising:

(a) a centrally disposed portion including:

(i) a first, planar, central member, and

(ii) a pair of first, planar, side members,

(iii) said first side members extending in the same direction perpendicularly from opposite sides of said first central member,

(b) a pair of side portions disposed on opposite sides of said centrally disposed portion,

(c) each of said side portions including:

(i) a second, planar, central member, and

(ii) a pair of second, planar, side members,

(iii) said second side members extending in the same direction perpendicularly from opposite sides of said second central member,

(d) said first side members being substantially greater in length, measured in a direction prependicularly to said central members, than said second side members,

(e) a connecting member extending outwardly substantially perpendicularly from the edge of each of said first side members and joining a corresponding edge of the adjacent second side member, and

(f) flange portions extending from each of said connecting members away from said central members.

2. The spacing member of claim 1 w'herein:

(a) all of said central members are substantially the same size.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

(a) all of said central members are substantially par- 1 allel to each other, and

(b) all of said side members are substantially parallel to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 471,204 3/1892 Weese 52 715 641,067 1/1900 Blazo 52603 863,786 8/1907 Curlett 52 715 1,146,223 7/1915 Wiswell 52-715 2,851,875 9/1958 Astorga 52--564 2,928,273 3/1960 Rheinstein 52-7l5 3,196,581 7/1965 Castelli 52 715 3,295,281 1/1967 Dixon 52-604 5 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1.X.R. 

